In the Corner with Dan Hughes

055-110606 In the Old-Time Radio Corner - Beyond Tomorrow

Beyond Tomorrow was the first adult science fiction series on
radio - maybe. Some sources say three episodes aired on CBS
in April 1950, but other sources say the programs were
recorded and scheduled, but never aired.

The series was hosted by John W. Campbell Jr, perhaps the most
influential person in the development of science fiction from the
late 1930s through the 1960s. Campbell was the editor of
Astounding Science Fiction magazine (which later became Analog) all
those years, and he directed his authors with a strong hand.
He insisted on specific themes for his magazine, and he directed
authors to change endings if he didn't like what they had
written.

This episode, a western-science fiction story called Incident at
Switchpath, was written by Theodore Sturgeon. The magazine
version was named The Sky is Full of Ships, but they changed the
title for radio because they were afraid the words "ships" might be
heard as something else.

From April 11, 1950, here is Beyond Tomorrow and Incident at
Switchpath.